Aggrieved protesters of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta shut down activities at the zonal office of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Warri on Monday over the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
This is coming a few hours after NUPRC’s avowed commitment to announce its final decision strictly in line with the PIA provisions on the requests by Ugborodo, Deghele, and Ugboegungun communities and other Itsekiri communities of Warri South West Local Government Area for the registration of Otumara Host Community Development Trust and Ikpere Host Community Development Trust, among others.
The protesters, in their hundreds on Monday, besieged the entrance of the NUPRC building located along the Warri/Sapele Road as early as 8:30 a.m. in a peaceful protest and prevented staff from gaining entrance.
The five-story edifice also houses other government agencies like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Government security agents and private security guards were on hand at the entrance post to avert any eventuality.
The protesters were armed with placards with inscriptions like: “Allow IOC to do their jobs”, “The Olu of Warri’s decision is final”, “No more divide and rule”, “NUPRC must operate within the rule of law in the PIA”, NUPRC must do the right thing,” and others.
One of their leaders, Mr Joseph Tenuma, described the protest as a peaceful one to register their grievances over the perceived alteration of the PIA community trust in Itsekiri Nation.
Tenuma said that they were aware that some individuals in the NUPRC were trying to alter the already-constituted PIA board in Iwereland.
“We are here on a peaceful protest to drive home our grievance that has to do with the composition of the PIA board; we perceive that some individuals in NUPRC are trying to manipulate.
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“We are here to inform them that we are aware of their antics and we resist them.
“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, is the overlord of all the Itsekiri communities, and we do know that there is already a properly constituted board by the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
“To that extent, they have done what they should have done in line with the law. So, we are saying that the board should not be tampered with by anybody, group, or organisation,” he warned.
Tenuma added that they would remain at the entrance of the commission until the management addressed them positively.
“Our message to the NUPRC is that we are aware of the drama that is currently going on in Abuja. If they accede to that kind of pressure, we will give them greater pressure in Warri,” Tenuma warned.
The protesters defied the torrential downpour that lasted for several hours, dancing and having fun with traditional music supplied by a hired Disc Jockey as well as a caterer who was hired to provide food for the protesters.
Recall that the Itsekiri people on Saturday, at a meeting in Warri, endorsed the list of PIA community representatives compiled at the instance of the Olu of Warri.
The gathering was convened by the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Oma Eyewuoma.
While briefing newsmen, he said that the royal father invited all the Itsekiri communities to make nominations.
This, according to him, was for the king to ensure the active involvement of all the Itsekiri communities in line with the provisions of the Act.
The Ologbotsere said that they stood by the list the Olu of Warri had put together, stressing that they would not allow anybody or any group to add strange names to it.
The PIA, which was signed into law in 2021, made a provision for the establishment of Host Community Development trusts (HCDTs) for the oil-producing communities.
Meanwhile, our correspondent had reported earlier that a tripartite panel made up of selected representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and Chevron Nigeria Ltd. (CNL) and protesting Ugborodo, Deghele, and Ugboegungun communities of Warri South West Local Government Area had met over the implementation of the PIA.
The protesting host communities were requesting the registration and recognition of Otumara Host Community Development Trust for the joint implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by SPDC, CNL, and NUPRC as enshrined in the Act.
NUPRC’s Executive Director/CEO, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, reiterated at the meeting in Abuja last week the commitment of the agency to strictly adhere to the provisions of the law as it makes its final decision tomorrow, Tuesday.
“The decision of the commission, as the only regulatory body for the implementation of the PIA, shall be strictly based on the extant laws, which are the PIA and the accompanying Regulations under the PIA,” he noted.
He had assured participants, after hearing from all parties, that the “Commission shall make its verdict public before the close of work on Tuesday, September 5, 2023,” adding that “Any party not satisfied thereafter is free to approach the court of law.”
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